Joseph Paul Craft

Joseph Paul Craft was born in Tacoma, Washington on 05/11/1947 to Joseph S and Valera Craft. He was born into this world with a big brother to protect him, Charles Craft (Chuck)

Although he commonly went by Joe, some of his family knew him as Joey, and he laughed whenever anyone called him that. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma and went directly into the US Navy in 1964. He ended up in a submarine, off the coast of Vietnam, on and off for four years.

When his stint with the Navy came to an end, he had a new baby at home waiting for him. Theresa! A few years later, she would have a baby brother, another Joe!

Although they didn’t grow up with him, they all ended up with him as they ventured into teen years.

He was a cook for many years and then went into training to become a marine electrician in and around Bremerton and Tacoma. He was a marine electrician for 18 years.

After a couple of lovely marriages that blessed him with his two children he married the love of his own second act, Debbie Hughes along with her son, Anthony. He retired in 2003 and moved to Portland after a lot of long distant years, traveling from Tacoma to Portland. He always arrived with roses and chocolate, every single Friday until he moved to Portland.

Joe enjoyed growing roses, canning, the theatre, old cars and growing tomatoes in their small garden. They had just purchased their first home four months ago and were in the middle of a remodel when he passed.

Joe loved bragging about his granddaughter, Caity, and taking his other granddaughter, Cheyenne, to the movies and he was the only one that continued to take her to Chuck E Cheese when no one else would dare go near!

Although he had been dealing with several health issues over the years he never lost his smart mouth and dry sense of humor. Oh how we will miss you.